Lake Whatcom Management Program

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Lake
Whatcom jurisdictions work together to provide policy guidance and direction
for the Lake Whatcom Management Program. A joint Council/Commissioner
meeting is held each year attended by the Bellingham City Council, Whatcom
County Council, and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Board of
Commissioners. The Lake Whatcom Management Program Work Plan 2010-2014
outlines current efforts. The
Draft 2015-2019 Plan is available for review.

Lake Whatcom Management Committee
(LWMC)

The Lake Whatcom Management
Committee includes the City of Bellingham Mayor, Whatcom County
Executive, and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District General Manager.
This team is responsible for implementing the policy guidance and
direction provided by the legislative bodies listed above.

Lake Whatcom Joint Policy Group

The Lake Whatcom Joint Policy Group
includes representatives from the Bellingham City Council, Whatcom
County Council, the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Board of
Commissioners, and the Sudden Valley Community Association Board, as well as staff from the Interjurisdictional
Coordinating Team. This group meets once a month to discuss Lake Whatcom
policy topics and to provide policy guidance and direction to staff
working on Lake Whatcom.

Interjurisdictional Coordinating
Team (ICT)

The Interjurisdictional
Coordinating Team (ICT), created in 2000, coordinates
activities and programs between the three jurisdictions. Consisting of
staff from each of the three jurisdictions, this team meets on a regular
basis to review the progress of tasks identified for the five-year Lake Whatcom
Management Program.

Work Plans & Accomplishments

Since the early 1990s, representatives of the three jurisdictions
have worked together on joint strategies for managing and
protecting the lake. The Interjurisdictional Coordinating Team develops
five-year work plans to guide implementation of the management
strategies. Plans, through 2014, consisted of twelve program areas:
Land Preservation, Stormwater Management, Urbanization and Development,
Community Outreach, Data Management and Information, Spill Response and
Hazardous Materials, Forestry/Fish/Wildlife, Transportation, Recreation,
Utilities and Waste Management, Administration, and Enforcement. The
Draft 2015-2019 Plan features ten program areas.